Election Interest Mixed Among Tulsa’s Homeless Population; Resources Available To Reduce Voting Barriers

Tulsans will decide who the next mayor is one week from today. Homelessness is a big campaign issue, and there is mixed interest from people experiencing homelessness, to get to the polls.

There are about 1,300 people experiencing homelessness in Tulsa according to this year's Point in Time count, but that does not mean 1300 voters.

"I am a registered voter. I don't think my vote would count. It's just, you know, the last time it didn't count, I feel like,” Paul Langer said.

Langer said he voted in the last presidential election but has no plans to vote this year. He's been homeless for about two years.

"A little longer than that,” he said. “I've been going with the Day Center, the Salvation Army."

"It's probably been like 10 years since I voted,” Kayla Loerzel said.

Loerzel said she is now in an apartment after being homeless for about a year.

"When you're homeless, you're more survival based…You can't think about politics. You don't really have room to think about politics."

MetroLink Tulsa is offering free bus rides on Election Day, to help get people to the polls.

John 3:16 Mission said it helps people get IDs and register to vote year round, and has been making announcements about the upcoming election.

Lead Pastor and CEO Rev. Steven Whitaker said people staying at the shelter can list it as their address, and get their voter ID card in the mail.

He said there are mixed levels of interest when it comes to voting.

"Some are interested. Some are not,” Whitaker said. “But we want to make sure they have the opportunity if they do desire to, that there's no barriers, in terms of transportation or awareness or what day of the week is it."

MetroLink Tulsa is also offering free rides Thursday through Saturday for early voting, although early voting starts Wednesday.

In order to ride for free on those days, you'll need the GoPass app and the code: VOTETUL24.

The Salvation Army said it also helped people register to vote and will be posting reminders to vote at the Center of Hope, downtown.